Critical Condition

by Nicki Edwards

  She shuddered at the memory. She’d stepped on his toes all night and he’d garlic-breathed in her face until she almost gagged.

  Liam glanced down to her feet. “You said you didn’t run either and yet you did that.”

  “Hardly. I jogged a bit and mostly walked and talked.”

  “Well we can dance a bit or sway in time to the music. Whatever you prefer.”

  “You do understand that no means no, don’t you?”

  “Not in this situation. Sometimes no means yes. You just don’t know it yet.”

  Poppy shook her head.

  He ignored her and held out his hand again. When she didn’t move he gripped her gently by both wrists and pulled her with him onto the small dance floor. He wasn’t giving her a choice.

  “I really don’t want to dance,” she protested, less loudly this time.

  “Rubbish,” he replied softly.

  She glanced around. “I’m going to make a fool of myself.”

  “No one except me is watching you.”

  “Seriously, I’m telling you, I’ve got two right feet.”

  “The saying is two left feet and no you don’t. I’ve seen them and they’re lovely feet. Especially that little toe ring you wear. Now, all you have to do is follow my lead.”

  That earned him a small smile and caused her face to redden. He reached for her chin and lifted it up until their eyes met. “Don’t look like you’re about to be sent off to the principal’s office, Poppy. It’s a dance. It’s fun. You’ll enjoy it, I promise. Trust me and follow my lead.”

  She sighed heavily. “Hope you’re wearing steel-capped work boots. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Stop making excuses and go with the music.” He lifted held her arm in the air. It was so stiff. He shook it gently until she started to relax. “That’s better.”

  He led her around the dance floor, taking small steps and leading her gently. As the music swirled around them, he forgot they were in the noisy pub or that people were watching them. He held her close and whispered in her ear. “Don’t look now, Poppy, but you’re dancing.”

  She stuck out her tongue.

  “Now, isn’t this fun?”

  *

  Liam’s nearness was so distracting she could barely concentrate. She tried to look away but his gaze kept pulling at hers, tugging like a magnet until their eyes met again. She inhaled deeply, smiled and forced herself to relax in his arms. After a few minutes, she found herself caught up in the rhythm of the movement.

  “Who taught you to dance like this?” she asked.

  “I did my deb.”

  “You did your deb? I thought debutante balls were old-fashioned relics of the past.”

  He shrugged and moved her slowly in a wide circle. “We all did it. Ten weeks of ballroom dancing lessons. I absolutely loved it.”

  “I can tell.”

  He pulled her tight until they were dancing chest to chest. She responded to the intimacy of his hold, wrapping both arms around his neck. When his arms circled her waist she hoped the song would never end.

  “You’re not as bad as you thought,” he whispered. His warm, beer-scented breath caressed her ear.

  “You make me look good.”

  His fingers weaved their way through the wavy tangle of her hair then drifted down and rested on the bare skin at the nape of her neck. She shivered in pleasure.

  How could a simple dance at the local pub turn into something so much more?

  He leaned close and whispered in her ear again. “Let’s get out of here and go have that debriefing session you promised.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  They made excuses to everyone and left the pub.

  Poppy caught a few curious glances, but no one said a word. She could only imagine the tongues that would wag at work the next day though.

  “Should you be driving?” she asked when they reached his car.

  “Keys are in my pocket. Feel free to grab them.”

  She dug her hands into his tight jeans. “How far away is your place?” she asked.

  “Round the corner.”

  He gave her directions then promptly fell asleep.

  She drove slowly, turning left, then right, then left again, into a small street in an older section of town not far from Jenni’s house. Massive trees lined the streetscape, devoid of leaves. She pulled up in front of a pair of modern-looking townhouses – his was the rear one of two set on the large block. The townhouses looked incongruous sitting alongside the more stately homes in the street.

  She poked Liam in the ribs. “Honey, we’re home.”

  He sat up and rubbed his side. Sleepy eyes met hers.

  “Wanna come in for a coffee?”

  Poppy chuckled. “I reckon you’ll be asleep before the kettle’s boiled. I probably should take a raincheck but I’ll make sure you get inside safely.”

  She helped him up the path and he stumbled slightly up the steps to his front door. Once he’d found his key and inserted it into the lock she was about to leave when he grabbed her arm.

  “Stay. Please.”

  She should have said no but the word that came out instead made him grin.

  “I win this time,” he cheered.

  “It’s not over until the fat lady sings,” she replied.

  He looked curiously at her. “You’re going to sing?”

  “It’s an expression.”

  “Oh. Okay. What do you want to drink?” He hung his keys on the hook at the front door and shrugged off his jacket, dropping it on the side table. “Cup of coffee? Tea?”

  “Just water thanks, but you could probably use a coffee.” She removed her own jacket and laid it neatly over the edge of the couch.

  He left her standing in the lounge while he went through a door into another room she presumed was the kitchen.

  “Are you hungry?” he called out from around the corner.

  “Not really.”

  “I have Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.”

  “You do not.”

  “I do.”

  “Then you’re talking my language and I’m definitely hungry.”

  She heard him slam the freezer door closed then heard the clatter of cutlery against bowls.

  While he prepared the ice cream she explored the ground floor of his unit. It was surprisingly spacious and more homely than she’d expected. He had photos dotted around. Mostly of his family. She recognized Joel of course with Kate and three children. Another photo was of Emma and a guy she didn’t recognize but had to be Tom. She’d heard a lot about him.

  But one photo in particular caught her attention. A petite blonde in a paramedic uniform posed beside Liam in front of an ambulance. The photo looked like it was taken for promotional purposes, but there was no doubt there was something comfortable about the way they stood next to each other. Was she a former girlfriend? Her chest tightened. So far everyone she’d met had told her Liam hadn’t earned his nickname for no reason. Surely he wouldn’t have a photo of his last girlfriend lying around. Would he?

  “That’s Maddi,” he said, coming up behind her and handing her a bowl of ice cream.

  Her throat tightened. “Your ex?”

  “No. She was my work partner. And one of my closest friends.”

  She heard something in his voice like he’d immediately sobered up.

  “Was?” she gently asked.

  “She died earlier this year.”

  “I’m sorry. What happened?”

  He inhaled deeply. “Drug overdose.”

  They dropped beside each other on the couch and Liam placed a bowl of strawberries on the coffee table in front of them.

  She scooped up a handful and added them to her chocolate ice cream. “Do you want to tell me about Maddi first or talk about the drowning?”

  For the next few minutes Liam spoke about how he thought the little boy was already dead when they pulled him from the water. It was as he was carrying him toward the ambulance that he felt a f
aint pulse. When he finished pouring out his heart, Liam had tears in his eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Poppy.”

  “Don’t be sorry. I’m glad you told me. It must have been so hard. But you saved his life and he’s going to be okay.”

  Liam shrugged. “We can only hope.”

  “What about Maddi.”

  Poppy listened quietly as he spoke. Once again, when he had finished he apologized.

  “Too many drinks and you end up hearing my life story. Sorry. I don’t know why I told you all that.”

  She touched him gently on his knee. “I’m glad you did. I must admit when I saw her photo I figured she was a former girlfriend.”

  “No. Maddi batted for the other team.”

  “Oh.”

  Liam closed his eyes and was quiet for so long Poppy wondered if he’d fallen asleep. Maybe he was thinking about Maddi.

  “So who was your last girlfriend?” she asked.

  His eyes snapped open.

  Poppy kicked off her shoes and tucked her legs under her on the couch. “Come on, I’ve heard the rumors. They don’t call you Lee-Man for nothing,” she said.

  He groaned loudly. “Where did you hear that?”

  “I overheard someone at work call you that. I asked Mackenzie what it meant. She said it’s short for Ladies-Man-Liam.”

  He ran a hand over his hair and down the side of his face. “Makes me sound like I’m some kind of sleaze.”

  “I’m sure it’s a joke.” She pressed her hand to his thigh. “Or is there some truth in it?”

  “I’ve gone out with a few women over the years.”

  Poppy studied her near-empty bowl of ice cream. Why did Liam’s dating history interest her all of a sudden? She popped another strawberry in her mouth and tried to make sense of her thoughts.

  “It’s not like I expected a guy your age to be a virgin or anything.”

  He gave a throaty laugh and shifted position to face her. His left arm snaked behind her head on the back of the couch. “I’m not sure whether to be offended most about the old age comment, or the virgin one. I’ll have you know that I’m neither.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Turning forty in August,” he said. “Over-the-hill if you listen to some people but I prefer to say I’m reaching my peak.”

  This made her smile. “You don’t look that old.”

  “Thanks. I think,” he replied. “How ’bout you?”

  “I’ll be thirty in August.”

  “We should have a combined party.”

  “If I’m still around.”

  He inched closer. “What am I going to have to do to convince you to stay?” he asked.

  She held up her empty bowl. “Another scoop might work.”

  “Too easy. Your wish is my command.”

  While he was in the kitchen, Poppy used the time to pull herself together. What did it matter if he’d gone out with lots of women? It wasn’t like she was planning to be the next one in line. Or was she?

  “I can see the cogs turning,” he said as he returned and handed her the ice cream. “For the record, I haven’t been in a serious relationship for over eighteen months.”

  “I wasn’t asking.”

  “But I can see you want to know. The truth is, I’ve gone out with lots of women, yes, but I haven’t been interested in anyone for a long time. At least not interested enough to go beyond the first few dates. I told you I’m not into flings or one-night stands and I don’t sleep with every woman I go out with. I’m waiting for the real deal.”

  “Oh.” She wasn’t sure how else to respond to that.

  “The reason I haven’t had a serious relationship for so long is I’m scared of getting hurt again.”

  She caught his gaze. His honesty was refreshing.

  “Who hurt you?”

  He made a funny laughing noise in the back of his throat. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard the rumors about Lily too.”

  She shook her head. “I haven’t heard anything.”

  He sighed heavily. “You might as well know everything. If there’s ever going to be anything between us – and I hope there will be – you need to know about Lily.”

  Poppy licked her lips. He hadn’t hidden his interest in her, but in case she hadn’t figured it out, he’d just gone and laid his heart open in front of her and spelled it out. How was she supposed to respond to that?

  “You don’t have to tell me,” she said.

  “I want to.”

  He unloaded the entire story and although Poppy had a million questions she didn’t interrupt once.

  “I had no idea she had a drug habit, no idea she’d stolen my credit card and racked up sixty-five thousand dollars of debt, no idea her life had turned to crap. She hid it so well.”

  “How did you find out?”

  “She always opened the mail, but one day I got home from work first and found a letter from a debt collector. I confronted her and she broke down and begged me to find her some help. I got her into a rehab unit and made a commitment to stand by her no matter what. That was until her boyfriend showed up at the house.”

  Poppy’s mouth dropped open. “She was cheating on you?”

  “Yeah, for years. I didn’t have a clue. You have no idea what it feels like to know the person you love is sleeping with someone else at the same time as you.”

  A hot flush of guilt burned through Poppy’s body. Her skin felt like it was on fire. She had to tell Liam about Adam, but he wasn’t finished.

  “After that I was done. I didn’t see her again until she was out of rehab and she showed up at work and told me she loved me and that she was sorry. By then, how could I believe her?”

  “What happened?”

  “She killed herself.”

  Poppy’s mouth fell open.

  His mouth was fixed in a grim line. “So, that’s why I haven’t been in a serious relationship for so long. I was hurt badly by a woman who kept secrets,” he concluded. “From now on it’s upfront honesty or nothing as far as I’m concerned. That’s what I like about you, Poppy. You were so honest with your feelings about your childhood and your mum’s illness and your dad dying and how that made you feel. I knew I could trust you. And for me, trust is critical.”

  Poppy swallowed nervously. If she told him about Adam now, she’d be adding another weight to the burden he was still carrying.

  She inhaled deeply and turned to face him but his eyes were closed and he was snoring softly. She covered him with a blanket and switched off the lights. He didn’t even stir. She let herself out, closing the door with a soft click behind her. She’d have to tell him another day.

  Chapter 31

  “What’s going on between you and Liam?” Mackenzie asked her the next day at work. They were on their morning tea break together. Mackenzie had her feet up on the coffee table and was gently rubbing her belly. She’d need new scrubs soon, the way the baby was growing.

  “Nothing. Why?” No way would she tell Mackenzie she’d barely slept a wink and when she had, all she’d done was dream of Liam.

  Mackenzie took a swig from her can of drink. “I heard you guys went running on Saturday.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Kate.”

  Poppy groaned. “It was embarrassing. I’m sure they could have lapped me twice. I can’t believe how unfit I am.”

  “Liam wouldn’t have cared. So what was the deal last night? I saw the way you were looking at each other at the pub. No way is there nothing going on. And where did you guys get to? I saw you dancing then you were gone.”

  Poppy knew her face matched her hair.

  “I took him back to his place.”

  Mackenzie grinned and went for the high five.

  Poppy left her hanging. “I dropped him at his place and stayed for a bowl of ice cream. He’d had a few too many drinks at the pub, I think. He fell asleep on the couch mid-sentence.”

  “There’s always next time.”

  �
�I dunno. Is it worth starting something that’s not going anywhere?” she asked.

  “Do you have to leave?” Mackenzie asked.

  Poppy sighed. “I don’t know anymore. I’m so confused. My life is in New York but—”

  “So stay. Liam’s a great guy and he needs someone like you,” Mackenzie said. “Don’t listen to him if he says he’s not interested in anything serious and don’t listen to people who say he’s got a reputation as a womanizer. I happen to know—”

  Emma burst into the tea room before Mackenzie could finish her sentence.

  “I need you girls out here now. It’s turned to crap,” she said before turning and racing out the door.

  Poppy and Mackenzie sprinted after her.

  Emma pointed toward the two resus cubicles. It looked as though every available medical and nursing staff had dropped what they were doing and rushed there to help.

  “Tractor rollover in one. Paralyzed from the neck down.”

  Poppy stuck her head around the curtain and saw a middle-aged couple either side of the bed, holding the hands of their son. Tears streaked their cheeks.

  “Intentional overdose in two,” Emma said.

  Mackenzie looked at Poppy. “Your choice.”

  “I’ll take the overdose.”

  “You sure?”

  Poppy nodded. With her years of experience in New York she’d seen enough overdoses to know how to handle the patients and their family members.

  She pulled back the curtain and the first thing she noticed was how pale the young girl was.

  “Hi, I’m Poppy,” she said quietly. “How about we get you out of that wheelchair and onto the bed.” She gave a quick smile to the elderly man standing there. “Hi. And you are—?”

  “Her father,” he said.

  “Oh.” He looked old enough to be the girl’s grandfather. “I’ll get you to wait outside while I get her into a gown, if that’s okay.”

  “Sure.”

  “What’s your name?” Poppy asked.

  “Brianna.”

  Poppy handed her a gown and helped her out of her clothes. “What did you take?” she asked as she wrapped a blood pressure cuff around Brianna’s arm.

  Brianna shrugged. “My mother’s blood pressure medication and my anti-depressants.”